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A move to the Estadio da Luz arrived in 2006 but that lasted only 12 months thanks to a lack of first team chances and Fonte tried his luck over in England, signing for Crystal Palace where he’d go on to make 92 appearances for the Eagles.

His stay in SE25 lasted three season before Alan Pardew made his move, taking Fonte to Southampton when they were in League One.

Jose Fonte (right) has signed for West Ham

The Portuguese defender was part of the team that won the Football League Trophy at Wembley weeks later – featuring alongside a certain Michail Antonio.

Fonte won the Saints’ player of the year in 2011/12 and was instrumental to their rise back up the leagues, earning promotion to the Premier League in 2012.

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Jose Fonte

He was appointed skipper of the Saints two years later under Mauricio Pochettino and won another player of the year award that season and also made his international bow for Portugal that year against Argentina.

He played every minute for his country as they won Euro 2016, beating France in the final in Paris.

Fonte is not available for the trip to Middlesbrough tomorrow but is in line for his debut at home to Manchester City a week on Wednesday.